Position Title: Community Case Manager

Reports To: Case Management Coordinator

Position Classification: Full Time, Exempt

Compensation: $41,000 - $51,360, Salaried, Tier 2 (FY24 Pay Scale)*

Benefits: Groundworks is proud to offer excellent benefits (valued at over $19,000) to our employees - https://tinyurl.com/GW-Benefits-24

Including 100% coverage by Groundworks of Employee's Individual Health Insurance Premium and Deductible.

*Pay offers will be determined based on a competency-based self-evaluation and hiring manager’s evaluation of readiness to perform in the role. This is a highly transparent and explicit process that supports compensation around experience and skills and takes the guesswork and opaqueness out of the typical offer processes.

About Groundworks Collaborative

Established in 2015, following the merger of the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center and Morningside Shelter, Groundworks is a dynamic organization committed to providing food, shelter and supportive services with dignity throughout the greater-Brattleboro area.

Groundworks’ mission is to work with individuals and systems to create solutions for ending hunger and homelessness for all people in our region. We envision a community in which all members have their basic needs met, including food security and a safe and dignified place to call home. We view poverty, housing and food insecurity to be byproducts of societal conditions, generational discrimination, and public policy, rather than the result of individual choices. Therefore, Groundworks fosters a culture of nonjudgement and compassion for the people we serve.

Position Summary

The Case Manager is responsible for working closely with clients to help them secure and maintain housing, and access services to meet their basic needs and contribute to their well-being. Case managers provide referrals and create robust community networks to ensure clients can successfully access additional support.

Effective case management starts with building an authentic, trust-based relationship with each client. The Case Manager then assesses individual needs, and works with each client to co-develop a plan for meeting the needs identified by clients. The Case Manager maintains robust and current knowledge of community resources and builds collaborative relationships with community service providers to ensure effective referrals and seamless access to support. This position also works collaboratively with a dedicated team of case managers and colleagues throughout Groundworks to ensure quality services for all. Case managers utilize creative problem solving and a person-centered, harm reduction approach, while modeling Groundworks’ philosophy of dignity and respect at all times.

Program & Position Specific Summary

Job Title: Community Case Manager

Work Site: 60 South Main St & In Community/Home-based (Windham County, Primarily Brattleboro)

Average Caseload: 15-18

Description: The Community Case Manager focuses on housing retention services for formerly homeless community members who will benefit from ongoing support in order to maintain their housing. From time to time and in the event of losing housing, the Community Case Manager will assist with housing navigation services to support the program participant in finding new housing.

Responsibilities

Engage and support Clients (75%)

Engage Clients

Build Client Rapport

• Build trusting client relationships and provide service from a client centered, harm reduction, and strengths-based approach in order to meet individualized client needs.
• Schedule and maintain regular appointments with clients and provide clients with compassionate, nonjudgmental, person-centered and responsive services.
• Demonstrate Groundworks’ philosophy, mission, values and standards of excellence.
• Maintain client confidentiality within GWC guidelines.
• Solicit client feedback to identify improvement opportunities.

Assess Client Needs

• Engage families and individuals in meaningful dialogue in order to mutually assess their needs.
• Identify housing barriers, needs/preferences; explore resources and opportunities within a household's natural support network.
• Complete Coordinated Entry assessments; make referrals to area providers when appropriate.

Co-create a Housing and Service Plan

• Work with clients to develop an action plan for locating housing, including specific goals, timeframes, and action steps to address barriers to housing stability.
• Collaborate with clients to formulate and maintain a service plan that addresses non housing service needs and goals which is reviewed and modified with the client on a regular basis.

Support Clients’ Basic Needs

Support Clients in Accessing Other Services

• Provide appropriate services and referrals to connect clients with mainstream services and benefits (e.g. 3Squares, GA, SSDI), including access to state benefits where eligible.
• Support clients in obtaining identification (e.g. state issued ID, SSA card, birth certificate)
• Make referrals to health providers, including mental and physical health, SUD providers, etc.
• Educate, inform and advocate for clients regarding benefits (Social Security, Public Assistance, food stamps, etc.).

Provide 1:1 Support

• Performing ongoing, individualized support and coordination for clients.
• Provide support relating to life skills, housing education, health maintenance, and assist clients to manage money, including preparing budgets and computing expenses.
• Coordinate and monitor referrals to community services, and advocate for client participation.
• Respond to acute and crisis situations in a timely manner during operating hours, including coordination with emergency service providers.
• Practice skillful de-escalation and crisis management.
• Support clients in finding employment, including referring to employment assistance agencies.
• Support clients in addressing or mediating interpersonal conflicts if needed

Support Clients’ Housing Needs

Support Clients in Accessing Housing

• Develop a budget based upon analysis of income and expenditures; discuss housing options.
• Work to address housing admissions barriers (e.g. criminal record, credit report, utility arrears).
• Assist clients in addressing credit issues.
• Conduct housing searches and assist with locating housing that is safe and move-in ready.
• Assist clients in navigating the housing path including viewing units, completing long term housing applications, understanding leases, and landlord negotiations.
• Assist in arranging for/supporting move (set up utilities, moving arrangements, etc.).
• Find resources to support move in (e.g. security deposit, moving costs, furnishings, etc.).
• Provide education and training on the role, rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.
• Develop a housing crisis support plan (prevention/early intervention) if housing is jeopardized.
• Identify other service needs/ongoing retention support needs and connect clients to those services and benefits.

Support Clients in Retaining Housing

• Coach on developing and maintaining key relationships with property management/landlords with a goal of fostering a successful tenancy.
• Assist in resolving landlord/neighbor disputes to reduce risk of eviction or other adverse action.
• Advocate and link with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is, or may potentially become jeopardized.
• Assist with housing and voucher recertification process.
• Coordinate with tenant to review, update and modify their housing support plan on a regular basis to reflect current needs and address existing or recurring housing retention barriers.
• Continue training on being a good tenant, lease compliance, and provide ongoing support related to household management.

Build Collaborative Relationships and Resources (7%)

• Maintain robust knowledge of relevant community resources throughout the county.
• Regularly explore new or unfamiliar resources to remain current.
• Build relationships with community service providers in order to make effective referrals.
• Ensure current community resource information is on hand at all times.
• Share information with colleagues from other area support agencies to enable ongoing capacity building and collaboration that serves client needs optimally.
• Maintain collaborative relations with other professional service providers for the purpose of case review or consultation regarding services to a specific client.
• Collaborate with other agencies to assist with other needs that are presented.
• Collaborate with other groups and agencies as a representative of Groundworks Collaborative.

Manage Case Files and Data (5%)

• Document all services and activities in case files. Ensure files are up to date and complete, including Case plans, ROI, SSOM, service transactions, case notes, and referrals.
• Enter complete data into HMIS or track and report on ERAP data.
• Follow the critical incident policies and procedures; complete incident reports.
• Comply with the State of Vermont’s Mandated Reporter duties.
• Close out case files when clients’ needs are met or clients no longer request services.

Promote Teamwork and Excellence (13%)

Embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Practice curiosity and openness to diverse backgrounds, experiences and ways of thinking.
• Build skills and understanding of anti-racist and anti-oppression frameworks.
• Foster mutual aid vs. charity and strive to understand the systemic and root causes of poverty.

Demonstrate Personal Accountability

• Demonstrate personal ownership and initiative in problem-solving.
• Hold oneself accountable to high performance standards.
• Take advantage of training opportunities. Attend and participate in a variety of trainings and continuing education events to remain current and enhance knowledge and skills.
• Participate in bi-weekly clinical supervision.
• Participate in weekly/bi-weekly individual supervision. Discuss with supervisor successes and challenges, improvement areas, performance goals, and areas for growth and learning.
• Uphold and maintain Groundworks’ values and foster Groundworks’ service mission and culture of understanding, compassion and positive regard for clients.

Cultivate Teamwork

• Participate in building a team culture of collaboration and shared ownership.
• Actively contribute to and participate in bi-weekly case management program meetings.
• Share information re: events and incidents with other CMs in team meetings.
• Support team goals and collaborative problem-solving.
• Support the case management team in triaging emergent needs.
• Build effective working relationships with and collaborate with team members.
• Support case management team members as needs arise.
• Practice giving and receiving skillful, respectful feedback to coworkers when issues come up.

Promote Agency-wide Success

• Attend and participate in All-Staff meetings.
• Contribute to agency-wide learning and problem-solving, coordination and communication.
• Support the seamless coordination and integration of Groundworks’ programs and services.

Competencies

• Passion for the mission: ending homelessness and ensuring food security for all people.
• Insight into homelessness root causes, challenges related to poverty, addiction, mental health.
• Robust knowledge of housing, resources and systemic barriers; effectively navigates services.
• Embraces a harm reduction approach and embodies compassionate, nonjudgmental care for all.
• Exhibits empathy and understanding for clients, while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Models excellence, holds self/others accountable and responsible for ensuring quality services.
• Is solution-oriented, takes initiative and engages others in thoughtful problem-solving.
• Has a positive, can-do attitude; takes ownership and pitches in wherever needed.
• Reads people and situations effectively, exercises solid judgment and critical thinking.
• Balances individual client needs and circumstances, with needs of clients as a whole.
• Builds authentic and trusting relationships with clients; maintains high confidentiality standards.
• Skillful and empathic listener; connects well with others and listens for understanding.
• Works well independently and effectively with all team members; asks for help when needed.
• Is flexible, adapts quickly to change, responds to unpredictable events quickly and effectively.
• Is open to learning and diverse points of view; embraces change and new ways of working.
• Is caring towards colleagues as people; encourages, mentors and inspires the best in others.
• Manages conflicts effectively; extends trust, assumes good intent, gives benefit of the doubt.
• Builds effective, trust-based partnerships with all colleagues, gives feedback skillfully.
• Is dependable, approachable, accessible and responsive to others’ needs and requests.
• Embraces continuous learning and actively participates in ongoing professional development.
• Has deep knowledge of community and strong skills in community outreach and advocacy.
• Demonstrates extreme reliability, takes initiative and can work well without direct supervision.
• Works through complex, challenging situations utilizing creative problem solving and a person-centered, harm reduction approach, while balancing agency policy.
• Exhibits agency values of collaboration, flexibility, inclusion, innovation, compassion and self-care while working through very challenging situations.
• Has excellent written and interpersonal communication skills that foster a team environment.
• Possesses strong time management skills, able to multi-task and maintain dual focus.
• Is timely in reporting to work, fulfilling commitments and responding to emails/calls.
• Finds the most efficient and effective ways to work, builds and enhances systems.
• Is highly organized, plans effectively, pays attention to details and completes work accurately.
• Is a collaborative and cooperative team-player; seeks others’ ideas and input.
• Is self-aware, reflective, curious, open to feedback. Understands own strengths and weaknesses.
• Self-regulates emotions, chooses words with care; responds skillfully in stressful situations.
• Remains calm under pressure, de-escalates, mediates; handles challenging situations with grace.
• Exhibits effective stress management, self-care, limit-setting, resilience and a sense of humor.
• Embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, is culturally competent, works well across differences.
• Shows awareness of one's own culture, identity, biases, prejudices and stereotypes.
• Appreciates and embraces a variety of experiences and perspectives which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability and gender identity.
• Is knowledgeable of agency standards, protocols, policies and systems.
• Is resourceful in finding solutions, addressing challenges and seeking opportunities.
• Analyzes problems/issues, gathers data and information to find most effective solutions.
• Conducts self in a professional manner as a representative of GWC in the community.
• Exceptional computer skills including data management programs.
• Has a valid driver’s license and registered, insured, and reliable vehicle.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.71 - $24.69 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person